Golf’s Must Have Accessory - Ear Plugs!
Now my girlfriend, Dominique, is certainly not a golf fan. When I explained to her last Saturday night that I was leaving in the morning at 8:30am for golf and would not be back until 8:30pm, she was mystified. Add to the fact Im off for 3 days golf next week and another 5-day golfing break in August and poor Dominique must be praying I somehow fall out of this rejuvenated love affair with golf!
As much as I have tried over the years, she remains an avid non-golfer so my suggestions of going on holidays in the sun and playing a bit of golf are stoutly rejected. However, I have witnessed the first chink in her armour…..this golf blog. Just a few minutes ago, she emailed me from work pointing me in the direction of a golf article she read that might make interesting reading for you guys. Bingo…we have you now Dominique. Welcome to the world of golf! Perhaps I could ask Dominique to do a piece on golf fashion?
Well anyway, the article relates to the noise some of the modern golf drivers make upon impact with a golf ball. Experts have identified at least one case of a golfer of 55 who they believe has damaged his hearing as a result of using one of the new drivers three times a week for the last 18 months. The man in question had been playing golf with a King Cobra LD titanium and the noise of the club hitting the ball was ‘like a gun going off’ he said. It had become so unpleasant he had discarded the club.
Dr Malcolm Buchanan, an Edinburgh-trained ear, nose and throat specialist - and a keen golfer - said: ‘Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals. The solution…..ear plugs is offered as one. However Andrew Coltart has pointed to the fact that if golfers wear ear plugs, they may not hear someone shout fore and could subsequently get hit my a golf ball on the head causing severe injury.
I must admit that I know exactly the type of noise they are talking about and it is completely irratating. When I was on the range a few weeks ago, the noise of the drives from the bay next to me was enough for me to stop and take a 5min break. Why manufacturers cannot create a more solid, favourable noise is beyond me but hopefully now, they will revisit these ridiculous tin-can sounding clubs.
So, who says golf isn’t a sport. Us golfers might not engage in the same physical activities as you rugby players or you soccer players but everyday we go on the golf course, we endanger our own well being. We have to deal with the loud gun-shot drivers that ring out around the course, protecting our ears in an effort to just make it off the course with our hearing intact. Every time we step on to the tee, we cannot know for certain where the other guys are going to hit their ball so when we hear fore, we don’t run…..we stand our ground (albeit with our head crouched between our hands to protect ourselves). When the rain buckets down, the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, we are there with 14 metal rods, standing in the middle of a field with our only place of refuge under a tree. Think about it, bolts of lightning, metal rods and timber! We are not mere men, we are gladiators every time we step on the 1st tee, ready to do battle with whatever comes our way……..oh and by the way, I picked up a very comfortable pair of ear plugs in the local pharmacy so if anyone needs a recommendation, Im your man…..yes Gladiators I said!
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